Christian Advance Helps And Prayers

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Take Time To Be Holy
Samuel Logan Brengle

  Take Time to Be Holy contains classic selections from Samuel Logan Brengle—a man whose writings on personal holiness have been touching hearts and inspiring believers for over a century. This daily devotional will inspire you to take time each day to deepen and enrich your understanding of holiness and how it is available to each of us. Not because we are perfect . . . but because God welcomes our obedient hearts and infuses them with His almighty power and boundless grace. Then we can consistently be and do just what God wants us to be and do. That’s holiness.  30% off this month!

RELATIONAL GOD

Part of one’s investment in discipling others should be based upon a theology of discipleship. What is the theology behind discipleship? Is there a theology behind discipleship? The simple command by Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 is good theology and the only plan Jesus had for the survival of the church. However, the origin of His directive goes back farther than time!

Imagine the God-only existence before Creation in Genesis 1. Only God has existed forever and there is nothing else. God is Trinitarian. The Father eternal. The Son eternal. The Holy Spirit eternal. Three yet One! All three persons of the One Godhead have always interacted and been in relationship. That means relationship has always existed, is Divine and can be included in the character of the One True God.

Fast forward. We were created in His image! That means we are to be in relationship with Him and others. To be in relationship with others for the glory of God, is to exercise the divine character. For two or three to gather is to enact and practice what has been eternally happening long before the world began.

The next time you favor to be alone, remember God has always been in relationship. Alone, is not His character.  We are created in His image. So, we are to be in relationship with Him and others. The best two human expressions of the Divine relationship are seen in a Christ centered marriage and in a discipling relationship. This is the beginning of the theology of discipleship. It began before the world came into being. Being in relationship with a like-minded small group was taking place before the Cosmos existed.

THE STORY OF "US"

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, …” Keep in mind God did not have to Create anything or anybody. The Trinity is in perfect relationship for all eternity. Self-sustaining. Self-fulfilled in perfection. God didn’t need us. But God did create us and loves us.
Why did God create mankind?  You might have heard this question before.  One answer is found in Genesis 1:26 when God says- "Let Us make man in Our image ..."  This is relational language.  The One who is Triune is always in perfect relationship with one another - Father with the Son with the Holy Spirit.  God has a relational character.  Why did God create mankind?  Well it wasn't because He had to, it was because He wanted to, it is who He is.  Just as God is love, He is also relational.  Furthermore, if we are created in the image of God, we too are relational by nature.  The whole Bible story is really a story of "us".  Human beings were not to go it alone (Gen. 2:18).  If you’re not already, get into a group of likeminded men or women who are in relationship with the Triune God. You were created for this! Christianity is the story of Us in relationship with us.

DON’T PROFANE THE NAME

Ever had someone represent you, or your family or your business or your ministry in a way that brought shame to your name? They didn’t give it their best and made you look weak, incompetent or even flawed in character? Maybe it was perceived falsely? Maybe it was brought through misunderstanding? Maybe it was your own sinful actions which brought disgust in the eyes of others. That’s reality. That’s real life, pre-Christ and even post-Christ. 

In Ezekiel, God is making known in no uncertain terms that the Israelites idolatry and exile has given the world a false view of who He is. They have profaned His name among the nations. (see Ezekiel 20:9,14,22,39,44; 36:20,21,22,23; 39:7,25; 43:7-8) it makes Him seem like a weak God who couldn’t deliver His people in their time of trouble.

One’s name in the Bible was more than a label to distinguish them from their brothers or sisters. Your name was your character and it carried with it a reputation. God’s name is to be exalted among the nations. Held Holy. He is Holy. He is Almighty! He is not helpless against Babylonians, your sin nature, nor in dealing with that one person who is a thorn in your side at work. 

The Israelites (like us) were profaning God’s name. They were causing the watching world to think wrongly about Him and His capabilities. Walking in obedience and faith hallows God’s name. It shows a watching world He is LORD. Walking your talk makes holy God’s name among your neighbors and the nations. Singularity of life lived by His word, promises, purposes and design hold up His Name for all to see. Witnessing to God’s true character. Giving your all, giving your best, brings honor to the Name. It hallows His Name. Don’t profane His name by living outside the will of God.

PLEASING GOD

God makes a paramount statement at Jesus’ baptism. It indicates a universal goal, a paramount goal for everyone, especially followers of Christ. God (The Father) says to Jesus, and those witnessing His baptism, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Wow! Notice God makes a direct statement about Jesus’ life before Jesus has done any ministry. This statement is made pre-ministry. This is an amazing relational statement. Jesus, you are my Son. You are my family. Jesus, I love you even though you have not performed any anointed ministry.  Lastly, Jesus, I am really really-pleased with you. Again, Jesus has not done anything up to this point for the reader to see why the Father would be pleased with His Son (from a human vantage).

Pleasing God is NOT performance based it is relationship based! But how? Before doing ministry, Jesus’ relationship with the Father pleases the Father. The way Jesus has lived His life pleased the Father. Jesus’ thinking pleased the father. Jesus has been walking in relationship with the Father and pleasing Him each day for about thirty years! What a goal, this pleasing of God! What an example, this life of Jesus! What a wonderful way to live.

Jesus' paramount goal for His disciples is that their lives will please the Father just like His.  We might tremble a little if we were to ask the Father, "Does my life please you?"  Yet, keep in mind the answer is relationship based and not performance based.  Are you in His Word?  Do you meet Him in prayer?  Do you follow His lead?  These help build, strengthen and maintain our relationship with God. Grow your relationship with the Father and please Him.  Teach your disciples to do likewise. This is one side of the coin of the paramount goal of biblical discipleship … side one - pleasing God.

(see – Matthew 3:16-17, 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; 2Peter 1:17; John 8:29)

Paramount Goal #1 for your disciple – PLEASING GOD

For more on this read God’s Purposes for You! by Allan Coppedge and In His Image by Allan Coppedge and Bill Ury.